Purpose Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are a promising treatment, but may cause hyperprogressive disease and early death. The present study investigated early mortality factors in ICI monotherapy for lung cancer. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed all patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and treated with ICI monotherapy (nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab) between March 2016 and August 2021 at National Hospital Organization Kochi Hospital and Tokushima University. Early death was defined as patients who died within 60 days of ICI treatment. Results A total of 166 patients were included. The majority of patients (87%) had an Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG) Performance status (PS) of 0/1. There were 21 early deaths. Significant differences were observed in ECOG PS, the histological type, liver metastasis, tumor size, the white blood cell count, neutrophils (%), lymphocytes (%), the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in serum (sNLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and albumin between the groups with or without early death. Univariate logistic regression analyses identified ECOG PS score ≥ 2, liver metastasis, tumor size ≥ 5 cm, neutrophils ≥ 69%, lymphocytes < 22%, sNLR ≥ 4, CRP ≥ 1 mg/dl, and albumin < 3.58 g/dl as significant risk factors for early death. A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that liver metastasis (Odds ratio [OR], 10.3; p = 0.008), ECOG PS score ≥ 2 (OR, 8.0; p = 0.007), and a smoking history (OR, 0.1; p = 0.03) were significant risk factors for early death. Conclusion Liver metastases, ECOG PS score ≥ 2, and a non-smoking history are early mortality factors in ICI monotherapy for advanced or metastatic NSCLC.
Background Pleural involvement by non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in patients without distinct pulmonary disease is extremely rare. Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) with or without pulmonary disease is also a rare clinical presentation of NTM infection, and pleural spread of NTM from VO has not been reported. Case presentation A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with back pain persisting for 4 months and a 2-day history of fever and right chest pain. The patient was initially treated as right-sided empyema due to general bacteria. However, after removal of the chest tube, a previously overlooked paravertebral lesion was observed on CT. MRI confirmed VO at T7/8. Mycobacterium abscessus ssp. abscessus was detected in both the thoracic cavity and the paravertebral lesion. Both VO and the paravertebral abscess were improved by antimycobacterial treatment. Conclusion VO of the thoracic spine due to non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection should be considered as a cause of pleuritis or empyema without pulmonary disease, especially in patients with back pain.
Objective Tumor-related eosinophilia may have extended survival benefits for some cancer patients. However, there has been no report on the prognosis difference between eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) and non-EPE in lung cancer patients. Our study aimed to investigate the prognosis difference between EPE and non-EPE due to lung cancer. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed patients diagnosed with lung cancer who presented with malignant pleural effusion (MPE) between May 2007 and September 2020 at the National Hospital Organization Kochi Hospital. EPE is defined as pleural fluid with a nucleated cell count containing 10% or more eosinophils. Results A total of 152 patients were included: 89 were male (59%). The median age was 74.4 years (range 37–101), and all patients were pathologically shown to have MPE. Most patients (140; 92%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status (PS) of 0/1. Twenty patients had EPE. The median overall survival (OS) of all 152 lung cancer patients with MPE was 298 days. The median OS of the patients with EPE was 766 days, and the median OS of the patients with non-EPE was 252 days. Kaplan–Meier univariate analysis showed that lung cancer patients with EPE had a significantly better prognosis than patients with non-EPE (P < 0.05). Cox proportional regression analysis showed that EPE, ECOG PS, sex, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the serum (sNLR) may be independent prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with MPE. Conclusion Lung cancer patients with EPE have a better prognosis than those with non-EPE.
Background Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) is a rare and aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis and standard therapy has not yet been established. Case A 65‐year‐old male with a cough for 2 months presented to our hospital. He was clinically diagnosed with non small cell lung cancer cT3N1M0 stage IIIA and underwent right pneumonectomy. The final diagnosis was pulmonary LCNEC pT3N1M0 stage IIIA. Multiple subcutaneous masses were detected 4 months after surgery, and biopsy revealed postoperative recurrence and metastasis. Chemotherapy with carboplatin plus etoposide was initiated. Subcutaneous masses increased and multiple new brain metastases developed after two cycles. Additional tests revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor and anaplastic lymphoma kinase were negative, and the programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression rate in tumor cells was 40% (22C3 clones). The primary cells infiltrating the tumor were CD3‐positive T cells and CD138‐positive plasma cells. Second‐line treatment with pembrolizumab was started. The shrinkage of subcutaneous masses was observed after one cycle, and the tumor had completely disappeared after six cycles. Treatment was continued for approximately 2 years. This response has been maintained for 4 years and is still ongoing. Conclusion Pembrolizumab may be used as a treatment option for pulmonary LCNEC.
BackgroundCentral airway obstruction (CAO) may be caused by various etiologies. However, conventional chest X-rays are rarely diagnostic for patients with CAO.Case presentationWe here described a 64-year-old asymptomatic female with tracheal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma discovered on spirometric findings during a complete physical examination. The plateau of forced expiratory flow was consistent with CAO. A decreased peak expiratory flow rate was noted at least 3 years before the diagnosis, and was attributed to an insufficient effort by the patient. Impulse oscillometric measurements, which were taken during quiet breathing and were effort-independent, suggested elevated respiratory resistance. These abnormalities completely disappeared after radiation therapy.ConclusionThe addition of impulse oscillometry to spirometry may be useful for screening CAO in routine health examinations.
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